READY SET GO! no wait...i was suppose to get my 335i recently until i realized there was an obstacle in the way that is not worth mentioning...anyways...i was definitely determined in my car purchase being a 335i, mainly because i think it was time to get into an FI car...im coming from an HR 350Z. Now about this vs thread, I dont wanna hear no fan boys saying corny shit like "its a nissan" blah blah lol...i want a real answer n not some troll as shit..i understand the 300zx TT is an older car and has no warranty, which to some might be an issue....i dont really care about that...i understand the 335i has lots of hp potential, just like the Z i guess...i was hoping not to get biased answers even in a bimmer forum. My plan now was to wait for the spring to get into a 335i while saving up for a bigger down payment...i guess im just confused now that another FI car sparked my interest...i know BMW has a hint of luxury to their cars and i guess the is a little more mature, while the Z would be more of a sports oriented and that boy racer look, to me at least...i just dont know and i was hoping someone would help me get my mind made up...if im not mistaken both cars can safely get 400whp sort of easy...i believe its easier for the 335i...i searched on google and didnt find much regarding 335i vs 300zx even though i know they are not really in the same league so no need to point that out either...they are both FI cars and i just wanted to see some talk about them...they are both nice cars....

I would suggest getting what ever your interest is leaning towards. My cousin drives the 300ZX TT pictured in this link "http://speedyzx.com/". He is also the orignial owner and has done lots of upgrades to his ride. His car is wicked fast.

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I also had a 350z track model. I can say there are some times when I miss the sportiness of my Z. My 335i isn't as sharp around corners, can't really drift properly (no LSD yet), but with just a tune (I have a jb4 and dci intake) and e85 mix the car is a beast. Plus you have a little extra luxury to boot. I don't really know to much about the z32 so I can't help you there. All I can say is that I'm happy with current ride.

I also had a 350z track model. I can say there are some times when I miss the sportiness of my Z. My 335i isn't as sharp around corners, can't really drift properly (no LSD yet), but with just a tune (I have a jb4 and dci intake) and e85 mix the car is a beast. Plus you have a little extra luxury to boot. I don't really know to much about the z32 so I can't help you there. All I can say is that I'm happy with current ride.

thats one of the things i was hearing about in the forums that was turning me off about getting a non real sports car like a Z or a Porsche..or an M3..but doesnt that feeling go away when you throw on some coilovers? Thats whats give it that "on rails" feeling i thought...thats what i was gonna get for my future 335i.

idk whats the link policy thing on e90post but ... this was the Z i was looking at .. its an actual 300zx TT that is STOCK ... 26k miles ... 96 .. i just love even a nice stock 335i dropped on some coilovers ... but i could also picture this with some nice wheels lol ... it is an older car indeed ... HPFP is also turning me off a bit ... i cant really afford one of the newer 3 series...

I think I can give you some perspective. I have a 335i and used to be very involved with Z-cars. I had a 72 240Z with a swapped in L28ET that made just short of 400hp on the dyno. It was a fun project, but I'd never do it again.

The Z32 is a beautiful car. When it was introduced in 1990, there was nothing like it and it was competitive with much more expensive cars from a performance standpoint.

The thing is, the rest of the world has caught up in the last 15-20 years. The performance of a stock 300ZXTT as you would experience it on the street is no longer in a league of it's own. Stock 335i will beat it 0-60 and take it by a about car length in the quarter.

The 300ZXTT is still an attractive choice as, frankly, I love the way it looks. The problem is that you are looking at at least a 17 year old car. If you can find a low miles example that has not been flogged to death and the price is reasonable, it might be a good choice. That combination is very difficult to find, though, and as time goes by, it only becomes more difficult.

I wont sing the praises of the 335 in this post, I just did that in a recent post, so you can give that a read. I will say that you should not underestimate the luxury aspect of the 335. It is not as in-your-face as it is with other cars that brand themselves into the luxury segment, but I can tell you that there is literally no comparison between the 335 and the 300ZX in terms of aesthetics and luxury.

At the end of the day, you can build up any car to be very fast. If 400HP is your goal, it can be done at fairly reasonable cost on both cars. For me, the 335 was the best choice. I've only owned it for a couple of weeks but so far I have not wished anything on this car was more like a 300ZXTT.

idk whats the link policy thing on e90post but ... this was the Z i was looking at .. its an actual 300zx TT that is STOCK ... 26k miles ... 96 .. i just love even a nice stock 335i dropped on some coilovers ... but i could also picture this with some nice wheels lol ... it is an older car indeed ... HPFP is also turning me off a bit ... i cant really afford one of the newer 3 series...

That's actually a very nice Z. If I were buying one, that is everything that I would be looking for... last year, low miles, super clean, no mods. You found one of those rare examples that was a well cared for weekend driver.

Z32 TT's are a nightmare to work on, very cramped engine bay. If you want a 90's Japanese performance car I think a Supra would be a better choice for reliable power and worth the extra $, or look into an NSX or rx-7 if you want more of a sports car.

Z32 TT's are a nightmare to work on, very cramped engine bay. If you want a 90's Japanese performance car I think a Supra would be a better choice for reliable power and worth the extra $, or look into an NSX or rx-7 if you want more of a sports car.

Z32 TT's are a nightmare to work on, very cramped engine bay. If you want a 90's Japanese performance car I think a Supra would be a better choice for reliable power and worth the extra $, or look into an NSX or rx-7 if you want more of a sports car.

thats one of the things i was hearing about in the forums that was turning me off about getting a non real sports car like a Z or a Porsche..or an M3..but doesnt that feeling go away when you throw on some coilovers? Thats whats give it that "on rails" feeling i thought...thats what i was gonna get for my future 335i.

m3 and 335 are totally in a different league, you can't compare the two, sure with a tune and a few bolt ones a 335i could eat a stock m3 in a straight line but the overall feel of the two cars when you drive them are different

i have owned both a 92tt z and now a 97 335. the z was a pig compared to E9X. the z i had tune/intake/exhaust and it was still slow. with the z you had to upgrade injectors and turbos to get anything out of it. with the 335 you can do the same thing with tune, meth, and stock turbos. 400 whp in the Z will cost you close to 5 grand, 400 who with the 335 will cost you 2 grand. did i mention you can not get your hand into the engine bay?

I owned a fairly heavily modded 300ZXTT back in the day and currently a 335is. The thing I loved about the 335is was that the acceleration reminded me so much of my Z. Both cars are great. The Z is old, but was built extremely well and, to this day, still looks fantastic. Better than my BMW in my opinion.

With that said, 300ZXTT only comes in a 2 seater. Plus, if you are looking for 400 HP at the wheels in the Z, it will require at a minimum, larger fuel injectors, ECU upgrade, intercoolers, turbos, dual intakes, etc. whereas you can reach 400 wheel HP in the 335i for much cheaper - basically full bolt-ons without upgrading turbos. With E85, it's even easier.

The basic ECU, dual intakes, exhaust upgrade on a Z is advertised to give you about 400 HP, but that's crank HP. Those upgrades measured were actually only putting out about 310-320 HP at the wheels (stock Z made about 230-240 wheel HP). A 335i with just a basic tune will put you over that figure - like about 330 wheel HP or so.

In terms of gas mileage, my Z actually got better gas mileage (about 17 mpg) than my BMW (more like 16 mpg) despite the fact that the BMW is so much newer, has direct injection, etc.

At the end of the day, it just depends on what you want. I wouldn't worry too much about reliability issues on the Z. It was and is an extremely reliable car. It is much less practical due to lack of 4 seats. Hatchback is reasonably roomy, but you can definitely fit more stuff in the BMW. Z does look much more exotic and it is very rare to see ones on the street in great condition.

Finally, in terms of mods, I think the 1996 models are limited as they are different than 1995 and earlier models - forget exactly what, but many of the engine upgrades for 1990-1994 300ZXTTs just won't work on a 1996 model. Perhaps due to OBDII or other stuff.

I owned a fairly heavily modded 300ZXTT back in the day and currently a 335is. The thing I loved about the 335is was that the acceleration reminded me so much of my Z. Both cars are great. The Z is old, but was built extremely well and, to this day, still looks fantastic. Better than my BMW in my opinion.

With that said, 300ZXTT only comes in a 2 seater. Plus, if you are looking for 400 HP at the wheels in the Z, it will require at a minimum, larger fuel injectors, ECU upgrade, intercoolers, turbos, dual intakes, etc. whereas you can reach 400 wheel HP in the 335i for much cheaper - basically full bolt-ons without upgrading turbos. With E85, it's even easier.

The basic ECU, dual intakes, exhaust upgrade on a Z is advertised to give you about 400 HP, but that's crank HP. Those upgrades measured were actually only putting out about 310-320 HP at the wheels (stock Z made about 230-240 wheel HP). A 335i with just a basic tune will put you over that figure - like about 330 wheel HP or so.

In terms of gas mileage, my Z actually got better gas mileage (about 17 mpg) than my BMW (more like 16 mpg) despite the fact that the BMW is so much newer, has direct injection, etc.

At the end of the day, it just depends on what you want. I wouldn't worry too much about reliability issues on the Z. It was and is an extremely reliable car. It is much less practical due to lack of 4 seats. Hatchback is reasonably roomy, but you can definitely fit more stuff in the BMW. Z does look much more exotic and it is very rare to see ones on the street in great condition.

Finally, in terms of mods, I think the 1996 models are limited as they are different than 1995 and earlier models - forget exactly what, but many of the engine upgrades for 1990-1994 300ZXTTs just won't work on a 1996 model. Perhaps due to OBDII or other stuff.

I owned a fairly heavily modded 300ZXTT back in the day and currently a 335is. The thing I loved about the 335is was that the acceleration reminded me so much of my Z. Both cars are great. The Z is old, but was built extremely well and, to this day, still looks fantastic. Better than my BMW in my opinion.

With that said, 300ZXTT only comes in a 2 seater. Plus, if you are looking for 400 HP at the wheels in the Z, it will require at a minimum, larger fuel injectors, ECU upgrade, intercoolers, turbos, dual intakes, etc. whereas you can reach 400 wheel HP in the 335i for much cheaper - basically full bolt-ons without upgrading turbos. With E85, it's even easier.

The basic ECU, dual intakes, exhaust upgrade on a Z is advertised to give you about 400 HP, but that's crank HP. Those upgrades measured were actually only putting out about 310-320 HP at the wheels (stock Z made about 230-240 wheel HP). A 335i with just a basic tune will put you over that figure - like about 330 wheel HP or so.

In terms of gas mileage, my Z actually got better gas mileage (about 17 mpg) than my BMW (more like 16 mpg) despite the fact that the BMW is so much newer, has direct injection, etc.

At the end of the day, it just depends on what you want. I wouldn't worry too much about reliability issues on the Z. It was and is an extremely reliable car. It is much less practical due to lack of 4 seats. Hatchback is reasonably roomy, but you can definitely fit more stuff in the BMW. Z does look much more exotic and it is very rare to see ones on the street in great condition.

Finally, in terms of mods, I think the 1996 models are limited as they are different than 1995 and earlier models - forget exactly what, but many of the engine upgrades for 1990-1994 300ZXTTs just won't work on a 1996 model. Perhaps due to OBDII or other stuff.

You are dead on with your statement. Perfectly said. I'm also coming from a 1993 300ZXTT and I would probably still have it if someone didn't run a red light and T-bone and totaled my car. It was a show car and I had pretty much everything on it except bigger turbos. What was bad about the Z was the fact you have to buy 2 of everything. It gets expensive. I loved the look and feel of the Z and have to say I like it more then my 335i but it is dated and I truly love the new technology. Bluetooth, comfort access, Nav, etc.... 1996 Zs are limited on performance due to the new OBDII setup. If OP wants a Z I would recommend 1992-1995 if possible. I feel 335i is a better way to go. Fast and reliable. I only had to change the throttle body. That's it. Knock in wood.

interesting points guys....im still undecided...i got a few days to decide to go forward w the ZX or let the winter go by and buy a 335i during spring time. One thing i liked about the ZX was its unique and you dont see many, especially stock...i probably wouldnt even do much to it so it could mantain its value...i would probably just get some wheels and lower it so i could easily just swap things back to stock and resell it.

GL with your decision. I used to have a modded 280z and my father a 240z, not too fast but fun as hell to drive. I assume you don't need four doors since you are considering the 300z. Have you considered the 135i ? Same engine as the 335 but very tossible and loads of fun to drive , and better around the track.

If you're gonna give the 300zx the attention it deserves then its a fun route to choose, but if you're just gonna try and do bolt ons and an ECU and try to beat the shit out of it for as long as possible and constantly be playing catch up fixing things as they break then you're going to hate it. When i bought 94 300zx TT a year and a half ago i immediately did a built motor, garret gt35r turbos, 3" downpipes, 740cc injectors, intercoolers, dual intake, full exhaust, and the car runs great and is very reliable, but i've still had to fix things since then like the steering rack and AC compressor, and that doesnt' include the fact that you need to do some good coilovers and bbk in order to make it safely handle the added power. most 300zx owners i know just try to milk them for what they are worth, they never work right and then they just get fed up. Just an FYI i've prolly put about 15-20k into my car since i've bought it, so unless you are willing to spend the time and money required i would say just do the 335.

I also have a 2008 fully loaded 335xi e92 with a cobb AP and i love it also, and i'm very happy with the combination of the 2 cars. But yea, if you're not gonna spend the time and money that the 300zx needs to really make reliable power then i wouldn't bother with it. But yea, its a great combo if you are going to do the two of them.

As far as the 'vs' is concerned, i bring my 300zx to most of the bmw/bear mtn/etc meets and my z32 is faster than any of the FBO/tuned one's i've raced... my z makes 478whp/482tq on 93 octane.

I might be going for the Z. its too clean..im just gonna get a PPI from a shop down there..Also a few sources say if you're going to go for a 300zx to preferably stay away from the 1996 ones because Nissan removed the valve cam timing and it unofficially lost 20hp...that's the only thing turning me off right now. I think I'm just gonna go w the Z for now, even in the NJ winter lol....I can get it for a decent deal and I could prolly make some loot off it, when i resell it. if i find a good deal in the spring/summer ill swap to a 335i!

Do not buy a 96 300zx, its the perfect storm of last year of the USDM version of the car, first year of OBDII (which was only done in japan) you will be plagued with check engine lights forever. My friend bought one against my advice and he's still got some evap code that no one can seem to fix, first it was an O2, then evap, etc etc. I repeat, do not, no matter how good the deal is, get a 96.